Below is a listing of the more commonly used shortcut keys in Microsoft Word. See the computer shortcuts page if you are looking for a list of shortcut keys used in other programs. Please be aware that some of these shortcuts may not work in all versions of Microsoft Word.
- Microsoft Word Shortcuts For Mac
- Shortcuts In Word
- Word Save As Shortcut
- Microsoft Word Shortcuts For Mac
- Word For Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
- Shortcuts In Word For Mac
- Word Table Shortcuts For Mac
If the device you are using does not have function keys (F1-F12) on its keyboard, like a Chromebook, certain shortcuts will be unavailable to you.
Keyboard Shortcut to Highlight Text in Word for Mac Any known keyboard shortcut to highlight text? This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as. Extensive list of Keyboard shortcuts as a word document. Extensive list of Keyboard shortcuts as an excel document A Macintosh Keyboard is available showing general Macintosh keyboard shortcuts Go to Entering and Editing Text in Microsoft Word Go back to Using Microsoft Word to Produce Classroom Documents. Use function key shortcuts F1 alone: displays the Word help task pane. Shift+F1: displays or hides context-sensitive help or the Reveal Formatting task pane. Ctrl+F1: displays or hides the ribbon. Alt+F1: moves to the next field. Alt+Shift+F1: moves to the previous field.
NoteSome of the Microsoft Word shortcut keys below may not work in Word 365.
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl+0 | Toggles 6pts of spacing above the paragraph. |
Ctrl+A | Select all contents of the page. |
Ctrl+B | Bold highlighted selection. |
Ctrl+C | Copy selected text. |
Ctrl+D | Open the font preferences window. |
Ctrl+E | Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen. |
Ctrl+F | Open find box. |
Ctrl+I | Italic highlighted selection. |
Ctrl+J | Aligns the selected text or line to justify the screen. |
Ctrl+K | Insert a hyperlink. |
Ctrl+L | Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen. |
Ctrl+M | Indent the paragraph. |
Ctrl+N | Opens new, blank document window. |
Ctrl+O | Opens the dialog box or page for selecting a file to open. |
Ctrl+P | Open the print window. |
Ctrl+R | Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen. |
Ctrl+S | Save the open document. Like Shift+F12. |
Alt+F, A | Save the document under a different file name. |
Alt+X | Show the Unicode code of a highlighted character. |
Ctrl+T | Create a hanging indent. |
Ctrl+U | Underline the selected text. |
Ctrl+V | Paste. |
Ctrl+W | Close the currently open document. |
Ctrl+X | Cut selected text. |
Ctrl+Y | Redo the last action performed. |
Ctrl+Z | Undo last action. |
Ctrl+Shift+L | Quickly create a bullet point. |
Ctrl+Shift+F | Change the font. |
Ctrl+Shift+> | Increase selected font +1pts up to 12pt and then increase font +2pts. |
Ctrl+] | Increase selected font +1pts. |
Ctrl+Shift+< | Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower; if above 12, decreases font by +2pt. |
Ctrl+[ | Decrease selected font -1pts. |
Ctrl+/+c | Insert a cent sign (¢). |
Ctrl+'+<char> | Insert a character with an accent (acute) mark, where <char> is the character you want. For example, if you wanted an accented é you would use Ctrl+'+e as your shortcut key. To reverse the accent mark, use the opposite accent mark, often found on the tilde key. |
Ctrl+Shift+* | View or hide non printing characters. |
Ctrl+<left arrow> | Moves one word to the left. |
Ctrl+<right arrow> | Moves one word to the right. |
Ctrl+<up arrow> | Moves to the beginning of the line or paragraph. |
Ctrl+<down arrow> | Moves to the end of the paragraph. |
Ctrl+Del | Deletes word to right of cursor. |
Ctrl+Backspace | Deletes word to left of cursor. |
Ctrl+End | Moves the cursor to the end of the document. |
Ctrl+Home | Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document. |
Ctrl+Spacebar | Reset highlighted text to the default font. |
Ctrl+1 | Single-space lines. |
Ctrl+2 | Double-space lines. |
Ctrl+5 | 1.5-line spacing. |
Ctrl+Alt+1 | Changes text to heading 1. |
Ctrl+Alt+2 | Changes text to heading 2. |
Ctrl+Alt+3 | Changes text to heading 3. |
Alt+Ctrl+F2 | Open new document. |
Ctrl+F1 | Open the Task Pane. |
Ctrl+F2 | Display the print preview. |
Ctrl+Shift+> | Increases the selected text size by one font size. |
Ctrl+Shift+< | Decreases the selected text size by one font size. |
Ctrl+Shift+F6 | Switches to another open Microsoft Word document. |
Ctrl+Shift+F12 | Prints the document. |
F1 | Open help. |
F4 | Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+). |
F5 | Open the Find, Replace, and Go To window in Microsoft Word. |
F7 | Spellcheck and grammar check selected text or document. |
F12 | Save As. |
Shift+F3 | Change the text in Microsoft Word from uppercase to lowercase or a capital letter at the beginning of every word. |
Shift+F7 | Runs a Thesaurus check on the selected word. |
Shift+F12 | Save the open document. Like Ctrl+S. |
Shift+Enter | Create a soft break instead of a new paragraph. |
Shift+Insert | Paste. |
Shift+Alt+D | Insert the current date. |
Shift+Alt+T | Insert the current time. |
You can also utilize the mouse to perform some common actions. The following section contains examples of mouse shortcuts.
Mouse shortcuts | Description |
---|---|
Click, hold, and drag | Selects text from where you click and hold to the point you drag and let go. |
Double-click | If double-clicking a word, selects the complete word. |
Double-click | Double-clicking on the left, center, or right of a blank line makes the alignment of the text left, center, or right aligned. |
Double-click | Double-clicking anywhere after text on a line sets a tab stop. |
Triple-click | Selects the line or paragraph of the text where the mouse is triple-clicked. |
Ctrl+Mouse wheel | Zooms in and out of document. |
Additional information
Humanity should be grateful for the invention of Mac hotkeys. They probably saved us thousand years of time if put together. There is something addictive in using shortcuts - the quickness, the feeling of a keyboard, the geeky confidence in your fingers when you realize “hurray it works!” Once you get hooked on shortcuts, you’ll never go back to clicking again.
Basic Mac hotkeys combinations
1. Quit all apps
Sometimes an app that you thought you quit is still secretly running in the background. When your Mac lags and you need some fresh memory, you may choose to quit all apps. You probably heard of Force Quit (Cmd + Option + Esc), but it’s a too long way to do it.
Quit many apps in a row: Cmd + Tab
Quit many apps in a row: Cmd + Tab
Microsoft Word Shortcuts For Mac
Then, holding down Cmd press Q to cycle between apps you need to close.
2. Delete a file completely
Dragging files to the Trash? Wait, this is not the only option. Here’s a shortcut to quickly delete unwanted files on a Mac, bypassing the Trash. Caution: there’s no way back.
To completely delete a file: Option + Cmd + Delete
Quick fact: ??
Did you know, the Command key ? symbol was borrowed from a road sign that is used across Scandinavia? Its original use is to denote tourist attractions. Early Mac models had Apple key instead of Command, but it later was changed as Steve Jobs feared that there would be too many “apples” in the OS interface.
Did you know, the Command key ? symbol was borrowed from a road sign that is used across Scandinavia? Its original use is to denote tourist attractions. Early Mac models had Apple key instead of Command, but it later was changed as Steve Jobs feared that there would be too many “apples” in the OS interface.
3. Copy and paste a screenshot directly
Cmd + Shift + 4 is an old classic way to make a screenshot on a Mac. But here comes the combination to take your screenshotting skills to the new level. Normally you would make a screenshot, pick it from your desktop, and only then paste it to the new location. It appears, all this time you could do it easier.
To copy-paste a screenshot: Shift + Control + Cmd + 4
To copy-paste a screenshot: Shift + Control + Cmd + 4
4. Quickly switch to the desktop
Sometimes your screen is so obscured by windows it would take years to click through to the desktop. Thank goodness, there is a Mac keystroke combination designed for people like us: the folks who are drowning in an ocean of windows.
To remove window overload: Cmd + F3
5. Open Spotlight
Spotlight, your Mac’s internal search engine, can make your life 1000% easier. It finds files faster than Finder and intuitively predicts what are you after. To open Spotlight right on the spot (sorry for the pun), use this magic combo.
To launch Spotlight search: Cmd + Space bar
To launch Spotlight search: Cmd + Space bar
Cool shortcut keys for Mac
1. Invert display colors
A truly psychedelic key combination. This shortcut inverts all the colors on your Mac's screen to their opposites. Try it, and your world will never be the same. On the flip side, you can find a few practical applications for this command, for example, to adjust your screen to different lighting.
To invert colors on screen: ?md + Option + F5
2. Restore a recently closed tab
This one can be a real savior if you accidentally closed an important tab in a browser, like that pancake recipe or payment confirmation. There’s an easy Mac keyboard shortcut to restore it.
To restore a closed tab: Cmd + Shift + T
To restore a closed tab: Cmd + Shift + T
3. To shut down your Mac instantly
No, the following Mac shortcut is not about the force shutdown. It’s used when you need to quickly close all dialog windows and shut down your Mac in a legit way. Learn this one, quickly finish your work and finally go outside.
To quickly shut down a Mac: Control + Option + Command + Eject
4. Mac hot keys to invoke Siri
Among all Mac keyboard commands, this is the easiest. Since Siri’s arrival to macOS we got used to talk to Siri about weather and even ask her to play our favorite tracks on Mac. If you are using macOS Sierra or higher, you’ll enjoy the ability to summon Siri using just one hand.
To launch Siri: Cmd + Space bar
To launch Siri: Cmd + Space bar
A shortcut to free up space on your Mac
Well, not exactly a shortcut, but indeed the quickest way to get more storage on your Mac.
Download CleanMyMac + Install + Click Smart Scan
This combination of actions will free up dozens of gigabytes of space taken by garbage: unwanted files, system junk, app leftovers, etc. CleanMyMac removes about 54 GB of junk on an average Mac. Try and see how it cleans your Mac.
This combination of actions will free up dozens of gigabytes of space taken by garbage: unwanted files, system junk, app leftovers, etc. CleanMyMac removes about 54 GB of junk on an average Mac. Try and see how it cleans your Mac.
CleanMyMac is available for a free download here.
Shortcuts In Word
Finder shortcuts
Finder is quite a resource-demanding tool. When you open a new Finder window it usually takes some time. For quicker access to your main destinations like Applications or Desktop, you can use the following shortcut combinations.
To quickly access Finder folders:
To quickly access Finder folders:
Word Save As Shortcut
Cmd + Shift + A (for Applications)
Cmd + Shift + U (for Utilities)
Cmd + Shift + D (for Desktop)
Cmd + Shift + U (for Utilities)
Cmd + Shift + D (for Desktop)
Chrome shortcuts
Having hundreds of opened tabs in a browser has become a widespread syndrome nowadays. Closing tabs with a mouse is not only frustrating but also may freeze up your browser. Using a direct shortcut makes this job easy as a morning walk.
To close a current tab in Chrome: Cmd + W
To close a Chrome window: Cmd + Shift + W
To open a new Chrome tab: Cmd + T
To close a Chrome window: Cmd + Shift + W
To open a new Chrome tab: Cmd + T
How to memorize Mac shortcuts: ??
Psychologists say you have to do something at least 3 times to put it in your long-term memory. Attach small sticky notes to the outlines of your Mac’s screen with 3 or 4 shortcuts you really want to master. Then, leave it all to your fingers.
Psychologists say you have to do something at least 3 times to put it in your long-term memory. Attach small sticky notes to the outlines of your Mac’s screen with 3 or 4 shortcuts you really want to master. Then, leave it all to your fingers.
Mac shortcuts for documents
1. Copy text without formatting
You want to copy a piece of the text, but the old formatting drags along with it. Now you spend more time formatting rather than actually creating a text. To strip the text from old styling, use the following Mac hotkeys combination. A very good one to stretch your fingers.
To paste text without formatting:
Hold down Shift + Option + Command and hit V
Hold down Shift + Option + Command and hit V
2. Paste special symbols and emojis
Probably this is the easiest documented shortcut key for a Mac. To enter special symbols, like those lamdas, tildas, and alfas, you need to press just one key. For instance, if you need to type a modified E, hold down the E key for one second and then choose among available variations that appear.
To enter an alternate character: Hold down the character key
To paste emojis in the text: Press Control + Command + Space
To paste emojis in the text: Press Control + Command + Space
3. Enter a strikethrough text on a Mac
You won’t believe, but 8000 people are googling how to do a strikethrough text on a Mac everyday. Although some applications don’t support it, this combination well works in TextEdit and Word. Now you can use it in every second line to add some roughness to your writing.
Microsoft Word Shortcuts For Mac
To apply strikethrough formatting: Cmd + Shift + X
Word For Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
4. Quickly print documents
The next combination works for most apps that allow printing. You don’t need to figure out where the print dialogue is located in every case. Just memorize this quick combination and send your files to print from anywhere.
To invoke a print dialogue: Cmd + P
To invoke a print dialogue: Cmd + P
Shortcuts In Word For Mac
Mac shortcuts to delete many files at once
There comes a time when you need to do a spring cleaning on your Mac: sort out old garbage, move photos to an external drive, or clean up your old downloads. It is time-consuming and takes an immense willpower simply to start. But lucky you are: there are a few shortcuts to remove large heaps of files as quickly as if you had a machete.
Word Table Shortcuts For Mac
To select folder contents: Cmd + A
To delete a group of files after selection: Cmd + Delete
To empty the Trash: Cmd + Shift + Delete
If you’ve got many files left after backing up, this will save you a good deal of time moving them to the Trash bin.
To delete a group of files after selection: Cmd + Delete
To empty the Trash: Cmd + Shift + Delete
If you’ve got many files left after backing up, this will save you a good deal of time moving them to the Trash bin.
To save you from a headache, there are apps that will do the mundane deletion job in an instant. CleanMyMac is perhaps the most reliable one. It has a tool that specifically searches for Large & Old files on your drive for a quick cleanup. CleanMyMac is available for a free download. So, check it out.
This was our take on most useful keyboard shortcuts for Mac. Thanks for reading. Below you'll find a few more links about Mac and productivity.